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1Tracing data for 2002 through 2003 is unavailable because of Congressionally

imposed restrictions on information release.

SKS ASSAULT RIFLES–A MENACE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

SKS assault rifles, such as that reportedly used to kill one police officer and criticallywound another in Ceres, California, on Sunday, January 9, 2005, are “the rifle model

most frequently encountered by law enforcement officers,” according to a 2002 report

by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF

report also notes that “these high capacity rifles pose an enhanced threat to law

enforcement, in part because of their ability to expel projectiles at velocities that are

capable of penetrating the type of soft body armor typically worn by the law

enforcement officers.” Despite the hazard this assault weapon poses to police and the

public at large, the rifle was not covered by the federal assault weapons ban, which

expired on September 13, 2004.

SKS Assault Rifles Traced to Crime Scenes by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

Firearms and Explosives, 1995 Through 20001

Year Traces Year Traces

1995 1,264 1998 2,210

1996 1,574 1999 2,433

1997 2,031 2000 2,079

Total 11,591



22001 is the most recent year for which complete data is available.

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On August 18, 2004, an SKS assault rifle was used to kill an Indianapolis, Indiana,

police officer and wound four others. In June 2004 three Birmingham, Alabama, police

officers were shot and killed in one incident with an SKS assault rifle. Two other

Alabama officers were killed earlier in January 2004 with an SKS. According to a

Violence Policy Center analysis of national Federal Bureau of Investigation data(“Officer Down”—Assault Weapons and the War on Law Enforcement ,

http://www.vpc.org/studies/officecont.htm), for 1998 through 2001,2 across the

country, one out of five law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty were killed

with assault weapons. Of these, eight were killed with SKS assault rifles (see chart

below).

Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty by SKS Assault Rifles,

1998 Through 2001

Year State Manufacturer Model Caliber

1998 Oregon Norinco SKS 7.62mm

Florida Unknown SKS 7.62mm

Colorado Unknown SKS 7.62mm

Indiana Norinco SKS 7.62mm

1999 Indiana Norinco SKS 7.62mm

2001 Michigan Unknown SKS 7.62mm

Texas Norinco SKS 7.62mm

Utah Norinco SKS 7.62mm

The events surrounding two of these eight shootings are detailed below.

Other Incidents of Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty by SKS

Assault Rifles

Date: January 27, 1998

Location: Portland, Oregon

Assault Weapon: Norinco SKS 7.62mm rifle

On January 27, 1998, one police officer was killed and two were wounded with a

Norinco SKS 7.62mm rifle. The officers, working on a drug investigation in Portland,



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entered the home of Stephen Douglas Dons and were met with gunfire. Colleen

Waibel, a six-year veteran, was hit with multiple gunshots, becoming the first female

officer killed in the line of duty in Portland. Kim Keist, a 15-year veteran, was

wounded in the chest and arm despite wearing a bullet-proof vest. A third officer was

treated for a gunshot wound to the hand. A neighbor reported that Dons was knownto have a large arsenal of weapons and that police had been called to the house weeks

before on a complaint of weapons being fired.

Lauren Dodge, “Three Portland Officers Ambushed at House; One Dead, Two Wounded,” Associated

Press, January 28, 1998.

Date: May 29, 1998

Location: Cortez, Colorado

Assault Weapon: SKS 7.62mm rifle

On May 29, 1998, one police officer was killed and two were wounded with an SKS

7.62mm rifle. Officer Dale Claxton stopped a truck that had been reported stolen the

day before. As Officer Claxton was checking the stolen truck’s license plate, a

passenger in the truck fired approximately 40 rounds through the front of Claxton’s

police cruiser. Montezuma County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Bishop responded to the

radio call of an officer being shot, and was wounded as his cruiser was hit with

approximately 40 more rounds from the SKS. Minutes later, Deputy Todd Martin waswounded in the left arm and right leg. The three suspects, described by authorities

as “anti-government, end-of-the-world-fearing survivalists,” escaped. Two of the

suspects were later found dead, while the third, Jason Wayne McVean, is still at large.

Greg Burton, “Posse Scours Badlands for 3 Cop Killers,” Salt Lake Tribune, May 31, 1998; Julie Cart,

“Answers Vanished Along With Four Corners Outlaw,” Los Angeles Times, November 24, 1999.

For more information, please contact Violence Policy Center Legislative Director Kristen Rand at 202-822-8200 x102 or [email protected].

***The Violence Policy Center is a national educational organization working to stop gun death and injury

in America. For more information, please visit www.vpc.org.

—END—

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sks fact sheet final